While the meaning of the term deco is often up to the collector, I have been intrigued at the use of the term for describing radios. I have learned the following definitions from reviewing ebay offerings:Deco – any radio with a 3-dimensional formVery deco – any radio with straight lines and one curved lineExtremely deco – any radio older than 50 years oldScreaming deco – any radio with two curved linesOh so deco –any radio with a chrome partAny catalin radio is automatically described as decoA truly deco radio is usually advertised as a “nice old radio”

_________________I sell old radios at a loss. But I make up for it with quantity.

That black skyscraper model could also be called 'Machine Age" "Streamline Moderne" is another label that is thrown around. That is easier to describe since it was used on so much architecture. The terms are used by sellers as a hook as they usually don't know what they are talking about, but they know what sells.

True, but on the sales forum there's a thread about a seller that sold an empty box that was clearly shown and described, and the buyer still filed a "item not as described" on the seller. I'm just curious if it could happen this way as well.

_________________I regret all the things I've done for a Klondike bar....

True, but on the sales forum there's a thread about a seller that sold an empty box that was clearly shown and described, and the buyer still filed a "item not as described" on the seller. I'm just curious if it could happen this way as well.

A buyer can claim anything, of course, but doubtful they would win anything based on other than condition received.

_________________\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\He Who Dies With The Most Radios Wins//////////////////

Martin Blankinship wrote:Before World War II, Art Decorotif (art moderne or now known as art deco) and industrial design were the two major influences of the 1930s. Before that, Most of the radio cabinets produced were some sort of period furniture reproduction, from any era 100-400 years previous to those times.

I found this looking for a very detailled post (even older) by our resident art teacher Mr. Stuart Schooley, now deceased. He did a good writeup on the differences.

What Martin says echoes Stuart's thoughts - much of what we call Art Deco these days is more accurately described as Art Moderne.

_________________ The beatings will continue until the morale improves

Definition #1: "Art Deco (/ˌɑrt ˈdɛkoʊ/), or Deco, is an influential visual arts design style which first appeared in France during the 1920s, flourished internationally during the 30s and 40s, then waned in the post-World War II era.[1] It is an eclectic style that combines traditional craft motifs with Machine Age imagery and materials. The style is often characterized by rich colors, bold geometric shapes and lavish ornamentation.

Deco emerged from the Interwar period when rapid industrialization was transforming culture. One of its major attributes is an embrace of technology. This distinguishes Deco from the organic motifs favored by its predecessor Art Nouveau.

Historian Bevis Hillier defined Art Deco as "an assertively modern style...[that] ran to symmetry rather than asymmetry, and to the rectilinear rather than the curvilinear; it responded to the demands of the machine and of new material...[and] the requirements of mass production."[2]

During its heyday Art Deco represented luxury, glamour, exuberance, and faith in social and technological progress." (from Wikipedia)

Definition #2: "The term 'Art Deco' is taken from the name of the 1925 Paris exhibition titled Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. The most popular and respected French artists of the day showcased their work at this exhibition.

Jewelry makers, graphic artists, painters, architects, fashion designers and all other manner of craftsmen and women displayed their pieces at the exhibition. All of the works had a commonality - they were not only functional, but also very beautiful (i.e. decorative).

The term came up again in an article by the architect, Le Corbusier, titled '1925: Arts Déco' and in 1966 at the retrospective exhibition titled Les années '25: Art Deco/Bauhaus/Stijl/Esprit Nouveau. But it wasn't until Bevis Hiller published his book, Art Deco of the 20s and 30s in 1968 that term was used to truly define that style movement.

In essence, Art Deco is a modern interpretation of the art movement that preceded it, Art Nouveau. So it may be helpful to structure the Art Deco definition in contrast to Art Nouveau." (from "Art Deco Style", a website devoted to Art Deco: http://www.art-deco-style.com/art-deco-definition.html.)

As long as it attracts lookers and buyers, DECO means everything and nothing. Key word spamming at its worst. Ask the seller to articulate in detail the DECO design features (asymmetry, Egyptian-themed motifs, geometric shapes, for instance). Few if any can. I would expect the ignorant to respond, "well, it's obvious!"

As long as it attracts lookers and buyers, DECO means everything and nothing. Key word spamming at its worst. Ask the seller to articulate in detail the DECO design features (asymmetry, Egyptian-themed motifs, geometric shapes, for instance). Few if any can. I would expect the ignorant to respond, "well, it's obvious!"

Only obvious if the Flamingos were pink...

_________________\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\He Who Dies With The Most Radios Wins//////////////////

I consider most anything other than the usual bland box between the 1933-34 Chicago and 1939-40 NYC World Fairs as Machine Age, Skyscraper, prewar Modernistic or whatever other label you want to toss out that doesnt look like a mass produced throwaway. Some interpetations were excellent while others downright horrible with the Howard metal boxes fulfilling the latter category.

Deco sort of filled in the era just before WW2 and say 1949 with the Scott 800B, Hallicrafters S-38 and SX-42, National NC-44, 46, 200 and 240D as good examples of a few I own and like.